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- Tasks: Lead and manage adult social care services, ensuring high-quality, person-centred care.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking council dedicated to improving lives in the community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, permanent contract, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in social care management and strong leadership abilities required.
The predicted salary is between 61443 - 68775 £ per year.
Starting Salary: £61,443 progressing to £68,775 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37
Location: Hemel Hempstead
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Adult Care Services
About The Team
We have an exciting opportunity for a Service Manager within the South and West Hertfordshire Older People and Sensory Services (SWHOPSS). This service includes seven locality teams, countywide Sensory Services, and two integrated operational and health teams. As Service Manager, you will lead and manage adult social care services across locality teams, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, person‑centred care aligned with Hertfordshire County Council’s Connected Lives principles. You will oversee operational performance, statutory compliance, and continuous improvement, fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and innovation.
About The Role
This is a senior leadership position with both operational and strategic responsibilities. You will:
- Provide professional leadership and oversight of operational managers, ensuring consistency and excellence in practice and performance.
- Drive service development, workforce planning, and training in collaboration with Learning and Development teams.
- Champion Equity, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and co‑production in all aspects of service delivery.
- Offer expert guidance on complex safeguarding and case management, ensuring statutory duties under the Care Act 2014 are met.
- Monitor budgets, manage improvement targets, and lead on complaints investigations and learning reviews.
- Develop strong partnerships with agencies such as the NHS, police, and housing providers to deliver integrated services.
- Contribute to policy development and embed operational pathways that reflect legislative and best practice changes.
About You
We are looking for a dynamic and experienced professional with a passion for adult social care and a commitment to making a positive impact. You will have:
- Extensive experience in managing social care services, preferably within adult social care.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
- A thorough understanding of statutory responsibilities and best practice in social care.
- Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills with stakeholders, including individuals, families, staff, and partners.
Essential
- Registered Social Worker (or Nurse/Occupational Therapist)
- Full UK Driving Licence
Desirable
- Experience supervising managers and leading diverse teams.
- Performance management, supervision, recruitment, and workforce development.
- Understanding of statutory responsibilities, safeguarding, Care Act duties, and CQC requirements.
- Risk management and ensuring all services are safe, responsive, and effective.
- Ability to evaluate service quality through audits, inspections, and performance reviews.
- Managing service budgets, monitoring expenditure, and ensuring efficient use of resources.
- Able to act with integrity, resilience, emotional intelligence, and professionalism.
Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required).
Service Manager employer: Hertfordshire County Council
Contact Detail:
Hertfordshire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social care sector, attend local events, and join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its values. Familiarise yourself with Hertfordshire County Council’s Connected Lives principles and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets it.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've inspired and motivated teams in the past. Highlight your experience in managing social care services and how you've driven service development and improvement.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our platform.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in adult social care. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Service Manager, so don’t hold back on showcasing your leadership and management experience!
Showcase Your Passion: Let us know why you’re passionate about adult social care! Share specific examples of how you've made a positive impact in previous roles. This will help us see your commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred care.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences. We appreciate straightforward communication!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hertfordshire County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the principles of person-centred care and the Care Act 2014. Brush up on your knowledge about statutory responsibilities and best practices in adult social care, as these will likely come up during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in managing diverse teams. Think about times when you inspired or motivated your team to achieve goals, as this will demonstrate your capability for the Service Manager role.
✨Build Relationships
Be ready to discuss how you’ve developed strong partnerships with other agencies like the NHS or local authorities. Share specific instances where collaboration led to improved service delivery, showcasing your communication and relationship-building skills.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Talk about your approach to performance management and how you’ve driven service development in previous roles. Highlight any experience you have with audits, inspections, or learning reviews, as this aligns with the continuous improvement aspect of the job.